Absolutely terrific piece by outspoken McGill University professor Gil Troy on the decline of free speech at Quebec's campuses in yesterday's Globe and Mail, stemming from the cancellation of speeches by Premier Jean Charest, U.S Ambassador Paul Cellucci and former Israeli PM Ehud Barak for "security reasons" in the last three months:
Where is the outrage? When did conformity with the prevailing orthodoxy become the only valid admission ticket for speaking to students? Shouldn't my colleagues be up in arms, teaching our students how to dissent peacefully? Shouldn't my colleagues be mobilizing, organizing, demonstrating, offering to protect Mr. Cellucci, Mr. Charest and Mr. Barak from the wrath of our protégés? When did complacency and cowardice become the popular substitutes for civility and courage on campus?
I think they became the popular substitutes when good people refused to stand up and make noise about it. Thankfully, that seems to be changing now.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:30 AM
